This is one of the most exciting new Fargesia
introductions from China, by European bamboo horticulturist, Jos van der Palen,
of Kimmei Nursery in
Holland.

F. demissa 'Gerry'
is the most interesting and beautiful of several bamboo specimens that were sent
to Jos from Gansu, China in 2004. Thought to be the northern-most
Fargesia species ever collected, Fargesia demissa has proven to be
among the most cold hardy of any Clumping Bamboo. Its characteristics are
most similar to Fargesia nitida, but it has distinct differences.
The colorful canes are thicker in diameter in relation to its height, and have
longer rhizome necks. This gives it a more "open" appearance, like a miniature
grove, rather than a hedge. The overall stature of this bamboo is more upright
by nature than most other Fargesia. The culms have a gorgeous pastel blue to
deep purple and in some cases almost black color, which changes slightly with
the seasonal fluctuations in temperature. Like F. nitida, it looses
about 30% of its leaves in the winter. The leaves curl in strong sunlight for
protection, but otherwise have a lush blue/green color and airy arrangement.

Based on notes from
original collections, we also believe F. demissa to a be new generation of
seedlings, meaning that flowering is unlikely for several decades. There are
several other forms of F. demissa that were imported by Jos at the same
time which have different colors and characteristics, but none as striking as
F. demissa 'Gerry'. Jos affectionately named the new cultivar after his
wife, Gerry.

In 2013,
Noah Bell of Bamboo Garden, in conjunction with the American Bamboo Society,
imported this new Clumping Bamboo into the United States with a USDA import
permit. Currently under quarantine at the USDA APHIS station until Fall of 2014,
the new introduction will first become available to the public when Bamboo
Garden donates the first division to the American Bamboo Society Rare Plant Auction (most likely Fall of
2015).